Many Sydney-siders use the Easter long weekend to take a lovely drive through the North-Western Hills district, and meander through the back roads of Arcadia, down to Berowra Waters. On the way there is Fagan Park, a delightful picnicing area to call into for lunch or fish and chips down at the Waters. There are many cafes open in the area for that flat white or latte or maybe a nice glass of wine as well.
What nicer way to spend the day, either before lunch or after lunch than to pop into Chanticleer Gardens and stroll around this delightful 3 acre English style cottage garden.
In Spring or Autumn this garden is a display of mass plantings of perennials, dahlias, sedums and roses, all planted within a formally structured garden. Entry through crafted wrought iron gates leads you up an avenue of plane trees, where an Australian colonial home sits on the crest of the rise. As you walk through a small parterre, the rear of the garden unfolds before you with a vista of colour. This is a garden of seasons and the autumn perennial season is one of loud bright colours, yellows, mauves blues and reds. It never fails to delight.
It’s unusual to be able to grow cherry trees and the myriad of perennials and deciduous trees that Peter and Grada have planted within the temperate Sydney climate. This is possible because Arcadia is situated on the 2nd highest point above sea level for Sydney and this creates the cold climate garden needed to grow many of the plants found here. Winter temperatures will drop below zero.
Although the garden is only fifteen years old it looks more mature than that. Plans to create a large garden where made soon the purchase of the property. Also a decision was made to engage landscape architect, Melinda Bargwanna to design their garden.
Within three months of having purchased the property, Grada and Peter were planting out as many advanced trees as could be found with the help of an old kubota tractor. The garden has been a work of love created by the owners and maintained with very little outside help.
The row of chanticleer pear trees, Pyrus “Glens Form” planted in the formal courtyard have given the property its name.
At different times of the season people have commented that the garden is very similar to Monet’s Garden.
ABC Gardening Australia ran a feature on the garden on May 7th 2016. It was titled “A Work Of Art” and shows the garden in late spring, with Grada painting one of her ‘works of art’. abc.net.au/ gardening/stories/s4457261.htm#ABC%20 Gardening
A character feature is the avenue of Golden Elms leading to the French provincial style barn were Grada displays her work. Most of the paintings, either acrylic or silk are of the garden.
Poppies are painted in beautiful colours on silk, with larger acrylics painted on canvas using a palette knife to give an impressionist style to her work. She sells her works in various art shows around Sydney and also does commissions.
If you are a visitor to Sydney this is definitely a nice way to spend a day out of town without going too far..
- Open; Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th, Monday 17th, 10am -4pm
- Entrance fees are $8 and children under 16 free
- If you a looking for a beautiful garden venue to hold a promotional event, wedding photography, small daytime wedding ceremony, or tours please contact Peter and Grada Shipway on 0433018806.
- The Art Gallery is open by appointment at other times.
